Introduction

The Numbers Bars feature in Sierra Chart is a study that provides a very detailed view of the volume and trading activity within each individual bar in the chart. The regular price bars are replaced with up to 3 columns of numbers. There is a separate number or pair of numbers for each price level for each bar/column in the chart detailing the volume activity at that price level.

The numbers within a Numbers Bar can represent the difference between the Ask Volume and Bid Volume at each price level, the total Volume or number of Trades at each price level, the Ask Volume and Bid Volume at each price level, or other values. These bars reveal very detailed trading activity within a bar.

The Numbers Bars study can be configured to display multiple columns of data for each price bar. Each column can be configured to display different data. For example, the difference or Delta between Ask Volume and Bid Volume, and another column can be configured to display the Ask Volume and Bid Volume individually.

The Numbers Bar study is highly configurable and there are numerous coloring options.

Definitions

Numbers Bar: A single column in the chart indicating various calculations at each price level.

Bid: When the market is open for a symbol that can be traded, it will provide a Bid price. This is the highest price that someone in the marketplace is willing to pay to complete a buy transaction for the symbol.

Ask: When the market is open for a symbol that can be traded, it will provide a Ask price. This is the lowest price that someone in the marketplace is willing to sell at to complete a sell transaction for the symbol.

Trade: An agreement between a buyer and seller to take each side of a futures contract or to exchange stock shares. This also applies to other types of tradables. A single trade has a volume indicating the quantity of that trade. In the documentation, the term Trades is used to indicate the number of trades at a particular Numbers Bar price level or for a period of time.

Tick : Tick has the same definition as Trade.

Bid Trade: This is a Trade which is considered to have occurred at the Bid price. A Trade is considered to occur at the Bid price for one of the following reasons. Once one of these is true, there is no further evaluation of whether the Trade occurred at the Bid. The exchange or data feed has indicated the Trade has occurred at the Bid. If this is supported, this is the most accurate determination. The price of the Trade is at the Bid price or lower. The trade occurred between the Bid and the Ask and the Trade direction is a downtick and the Bid direction is a downtick. The Trade occurred between the Bid and the Ask and it is closer to the Bid. There has been no change in the last Trade price, and the last Trade was considered a Bid trade. The final determination is if the Trade direction is a downtick.

Ask Trade: This is a Trade which is considered to have occurred at the Ask price. A Trade is considered to occur at the Ask price for one of the following reasons. Once one of these is true, there is no further evaluation of whether the Trade occurred at the Ask. The exchange or data feed has indicated the Trade has occurred at the Ask. If this is supported, this is the most accurate determination. The price of the Trade is at the Ask price or higher. The trade occurred between the Bid and the Ask and the Trade direction is an uptick and the Ask direction is an uptick. The Trade occurred between the Bid and the Ask and it is closer to the Ask. There has been no change in the last Trade price, and the last Trade was considered a Ask trade. The final determination is if the Trade direction is an uptick.

Bid Volume / Bid Trade Volume: This is the sum of all traded volume , not the number of trades, rather the number of contracts or shares traded, for a Numbers Bar price level or for period of time, that were Bid Trades.

Ask Volume / Ask Trade Volume: This is the sum of all traded volume , not the number of trades, rather the number of contracts or shares traded, for a Numbers Bar price level or for period of time, that were Ask Trades.

Delta: Sierra Chart does not normally use this term, since it is to generalized. Typically this means the difference between Ask Volume and Bid Volume at a particular Numbers Bar price level or for a period of time.

Volume: The total quantity of futures contracts or stock shares traded at a particular Numbers Bar price level, or for a period of time. The Daily Volume for a symbol is the exchange reported Trade volume for the symbol for the trading day.

Dominant Side: When comparing the Bid Volume and Ask Volume at a price level, the side with the larger value is considered the dominant side.

Diagonal Dominant Side: Diagonal Dominant Side is similar to Dominant Side, but the Bid Volume at one price level is compared diagonally to the Ask Volume at the next higher price level.

The side with the larger value is the dominant side. Within a single price level, both the Bid Volume and Ask Volume could be dominant due to the diagonal comparisons of three different price levels.

Within a bar, the highest Bid Volume and lowest Ask Volume are never dominant because there is nothing to compare against.

Tick Size : Every symbol that can be traded has a Tick Size. The Tick Size for a symbol is the minimum value that the price for that symbol can change by. For example, the S&P ES futures has a Tick Size of .25.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Your Sierra Chart account needs to have the Numbers Bars study feature.
To change your Sierra Chart service package, select Help >> Account Control Panel on the menu. Click on the Change Service Package link on the displayed webpage and follow the instructions. After you change your service package, you will need to restart Sierra Chart.

The data records in the Intraday chart data file for the symbol need to be 1 Tick when using Numbers Bars. Otherwise, the displayed Numbers Bars data will be less accurate. For instructions to set this, refer to Tick by Tick Data Configuration.

Select Chart >> Chart Settings.

Set Days to Load/Display to a small number, like 7, to reduce the amount of time it takes to load chart data due to the additional volume processing required when using Numbers Bars.

Set the Tick Size if it is not set correctly. This is the minimum increment that the symbol trades in. In the case of foreign exchange symbols, this value should not be too small, otherwise it will increase the amount of time to build the Numbers Bars.

Press OK to close the Chart Settings window.

Select Analysis >> Studies on the menu.

In Studies Available list, select the Numbers Bars study.

Press the Add button.

Press the Settings button.

Select the Settings and Inputs tab.

The Numbers Bars study supports the ability to configure up to 3 Numbers Bars columns per underlying chart bar. For example, if the chart bars are set to 10 minutes per bar, it is possible to define 3 Numbers Bars columns showing data for each 10 minute bar. You will notice in the list of Inputs for Numbers Bars study, 3 sets of Inputs, one for each column. These are numbered 1 through 3.

Configure the Column # Numbers Bars Text for each of the 3 Numbers Bars columns you want to use. Numbers Bars can contain 1-3 columns of information. For each of the three columns, select one of the choices. For descriptions of each text type refer to Numbers Bars Text Types. If you only want to display a single column, then set Column 1 Numbers Bars Text to the Text type that you require and the other columns need to be set to No Text.

Configure the Column # Background Type for each of the 3 Numbers Bars columns you want to use. For details of each type, refer to Numbers Bars Background Types.

Configure additional Numbers Bars Inputs as required. For detailed descriptions for each of the available Inputs, refer to Input Settings for Numbers Bars.

Press OK. Press OK.

You will now see the Numbers Bars on the chart so long as the necessary historical data is available. Refer to the Services That Support Bid Volume and Ask Volume section to know what Data or Trading services have the proper historical data for Numbers Bars.

Due to the nature of Numbers Bars you probably will have to change the horizontal and vertical scaling to get a readable view. Refer to the Scaling a Numbers Bars Chart section for instructions. This is a very important step that must not be overlooked.

Scaling a Numbers Bars Chart

Due to the nature of Numbers Bars charts you probably will have to change the horizontal and vertical scaling to avoid the numbers in the Numbers Bars from overlapping (refer to image on right), or to get the visual appearance that you require. Follow these instructions below.

Select Chart >> Chart Settings >> Scale. Make sure the Scale Range Type is set to Automatic. This step is not necessary unless you have previously changed the Scale.

Confirm that the Scale Range Type for the Numbers Bars study is set to Automatic. To do this, refer to Opening the Scale Window For a Study documentation. This step is not necessary unless you have previously changed the Scale for this study.

Right-click on the Values Scale of numbers on the right side of the chart and select Reset.

Increase the chart bar spacing (horizontal scaling) by pressing the ToolBar button that increases the spacing between the bars in the chart until you get a clear view of the numbers. These are all of the available ToolBar buttons that change bar spacing: . You can also press the Up Arrow key on your keyboard. For complete instructions, refer to the Changing Spacing documentation on the Working With Charts page.

Alternatively, reduce the bar spacing in the chart if the Numbers Bars columns are to far apart which will cause the Numbers Bars columns to be too wide.

Right-click on the Values Scale on the right and select Interactive Scale Range. If necessary click and drag down on the Values Scale to expand the chart so that the numbers within the bars are easier to view. When you do this, it will cause the Numbers Bars to be expanded beyond the top and bottom of the chart. What you can then do in this case is move the chart up and down to see all of the bars. To do this, right click on the Values Scale on the right and select Interactive Scale Move. You can then click and drag on the Values Scale to move the chart up and down. For additional information about these types of scale changes, refer to the Interactive Scaling documentation.

Adjusting Tick Size For Larger Increment

In this image below, we see Numbers Bars that have overlapping price levels because the range of prices displayed contains a large number of price levels based upon the chart Tick Size.

There is insufficient space to clearly display each price level without overlapping.

In the case of a severe overlap like we see above, the solution to this is to increase the Tick Size in Chart >> Chart Settings. For example, it could be doubled or substantially increased like 10 times. In this particular case, we have increased it by 10 times. See the result below.

No Text: When No Text is selected, then there is no Numbers Bar column displayed.

Ask Bid Vol Difference (AskVolume BidVolume Difference): This Numbers Bars Text type displays the difference between AskVolume and BidVolume for each price within the Numbers Bar.

Volume: This Numbers Bars Text type displays the Total Volume for each price within the Numbers Bar.

Trades: This Numbers Bars Text type displays the Number of Trades for each price within the Numbers Bar.

Bid Vol x Ask Vol (AskVolume by BidVolume): This Numbers Bars Text type displays the BidVolume and AskVolume separated by a x or | character, for each price within the Numbers Bar.

Dominant Side Volume Percent: This Numbers Bars Text type displays a percentage and it is calculated as follows: When Ask Volume is greater than the Bid Volume at a price level within the Numbers Bar, then this will be a positive percentage. This percentage represents what the Ask Volume is percentagewise of the sum of the Ask Volume and Bid Volume for the price level within the Numbers Bar. When Bid Volume is greater than the Ask Volume at a price level within the Numbers Bar, then this will be a negative percentage. This percentage represents what the Bid Volume is percentagewise of the sum of the Ask Volume and Bid Volume for the price level within the Numbers Bar.

Price: This Numbers Bars Text displays the actual price for each price within the Numbers Bar.

Full Background: This background type fills the entire background of a price level within a Numbers Bar.

Background on Dominant Side: The functioning of this background type is affected by the Column # Background Coloring Method. This background type fills 50% of the background of a price level within a Numbers Bar.

This setting is only meaningful if the Column # Background Coloring Method is set to Based on Ask Volume/Bid Volume Percentage, Dominant Side, or Diagonal Dominant Side.

With these settings, the Bid or Ask side will be colored if it is the dominant side. Otherwise, only the left side of the price level within a Numbers Bar will be colored.

Volume Profile: This background type fills the background for a price level based upon the volume at the price level compared to the maximum volume among all of the price levels within the Numbers Bar.

Volume Profile Outline: This is identical to Volume Profile , except that only an outline is drawn instead of filling the price level.

Right Aligned Volume Profile: This is identical to Volume Profile , except that the Volume Profile fill is right aligned.

Right Aligned Volume Profile Outline: This is identical to Volume Profile, except only that an outline is drawn instead of filling the price level and this outline is right outlined

ABDiff Profile: This background type will calculate the difference between Ask Volume and Bid Volume and color the width of the background of the price levels within the Numbers Bar based upon this difference, relative to the maximum difference. This will give a Volume Profile appearance.

When highlighting the Point of Control, the price level with the greatest volume may not necessarily be the largest vertical bar based upon this background type.

ABDiff Profile Outline: This is identical to ABDiff Profile, except that only the outline of the volume difference profile is drawn, instead of filling the price level.

Right Aligned ABDiff Profile: This is identical to ABDiff Profile, except that the volume difference profile is right aligned.

Right Aligned ABDiff Profile Outline: This is identical to ABDiff Profile, except that only the outline of the volume difference profile is drawn, instead of filling the price level and the volume difference is right aligned.

Ask/Bid Volume Split Profile: This background type draws separate Volume Profiles for Bid volume and Ask volume. The Bid volume is on the left side and the Ask volume is on the right side. The base of the Volume Profiles is along the center of the Numbers Bar.

Both the Ask and Bid Volume profiles are built independently. The profile widths are built by looking at the percentage of the Bid Volume/Ask Volume versus the maximum Bid Volume/Ask Volume depending on whether the profile is for Bid Volume or Ask Volume.

Ask/Bid Volume Split Profile Outline: This is identical to Ask/Bid Volume Split Profile except only the outline of the Volume Profiles are drawn, instead of filling the price level.

Volume Profile Across All Columns: This background type is identical to the Volume Profile background type except that the bars extend across all the Numbers Bars columns if you are using more than one column per price bar.

Volume Profile Outline Across All Columns: This is identical Volume Profile Across All Columns, except only an outline is drawn for the Volume Profiles, instead of filling the price level.

Ask/Bid Volume Split Profile Across Bid & Ask: This background type is similar to Ask/Bid Volume Split Profile, however it uses the maximum value across price levels for both the Bid and Ask sides to determine the bar widths.

Ask/Bid Volume Split Profile Across Bid & Ask Outline: Same as Ask/Bid Volume Split Profile Across Bid & Ask, except the background is not completely filled in, only the outline is drawn.

Numbers Bars Background Coloring Methods

This section documents the Column # Background Coloring Method study Input. The Background Coloring Method controls the application of colors to each price level within the Numbers Bar. There are multiple formulas to choose from. They are documented below.

Based on Above/At Below Last: This Background Coloring Method colors the price levels above the Last trade price within the Numbers Bar the Column # Range 3 Up Color. The price levels at or below the Last trade price within the Numbers Bar are colored the Column # Range 3 Down Color.

Diagonal Dominant Side: This background coloring method only applies when the Column # Numbers Bars Text Input is set to Bid Vol x Ask Vol. This background coloring method is the same as Dominant Side except the Bid Volume and Ask Volume comparisons are done diagonally. For the details of how this background coloring method works, refer to Dominant Side Percentage Coloring | Diagonal Dominant Side Percentage Coloring.

When using this background coloring method, the Column # Background Type must be set to Background on Dominant Side. Otherwise, there is no way to independently color the Bid and Ask sides.

Default Text Color: This input controls the text color of the displayed values within each price level of a Numbers Bar. This input only applies when the Column # Text Coloring Method is set to None.

Highlight Minimum Value In: This input controls the specific the Numbers Bar column within the 3 available columns for underlying bar in the chart, where the highlighting of the minimum value at a price level, will be drawn. In the case of the Bid Vol x Ask Vol Text type, the price level with the maximum BidVolume for the Numbers Bar column is considered the minimum value and will be highlighted.

Minimum Highlight Color: This input controls the color of the minimum value highlight.

Minimum Highlight Line Width: This input controls the line width of the minimum value highlight.

Highlight Maximum Value In: This input controls the specific the Numbers Bar column within the 3 available columns for underlying bar in the chart, where the highlighting of the maximum value at a price level, will be drawn. In the case of the Bid Vol x Ask Vol Text type, the price level with the maximum AskVolume for the Numbers Bar column is considered the maximum value and will be highlighted.

Maximum Highlight Color: This input controls the color of the maximum value highlight.

Maximum Highlight Line Width: This input controls the line width of the maximum value highlight.

Highlight Point Of Control In: This input controls the specific the Numbers Bar column within the 3 available columns for underlying bar in the chart, where the highlighting of the Point of Control, will be drawn. The Point of Control in a Numbers Bar is the price level where there is the greatest volume among all of the other price levels. The point of control is highlighted by drawing a rectangle around the price level.

Point Of Control Highlight Color: This input controls the color of the highlighting of the price level which is the Point of Control.

Point Of Control Highlight Line Width: This input controls the line width of the Point of Control highlight line.

Open and Close Marker Style: This setting is for specifying the Open and Close marker style for a Numbers Bar. This controls the style of the marker indicating the Open price and of the Close price of a Numbers Bar. It can be set to one of the following:

None: There is no style for the Open and Close Marker.

Arrows On Price: This setting will show arrows on the Numbers Bar price levels which indicate the Open and Close price. The arrow that is on the left side, represents the price of the Open for the bar. The arrow that is on the right side, represents the price of the Close for the bar.

Vertical Bars On Price: This setting will show narrow vertical bars on the Numbers Bar price levels which indicate the Open and Close price. The vertical bar that is on the left side, represents the price of the Open for the bar. The vertical bar that is on the right side, represents the price of the Close for the bar.

Open To Close Boxes: This setting will draw boxes from the Open price to the Close price of the Numbers Bar, along the left side of the Numbers Bar. The box coloring is set with the Open Marker/ Up Box Color (for Up bars) and the Close Marker / Down Box Color (for Down bars) color Input settings.

When choosing this option, you also need to set Place Open Marker / Boxes In to Column 1 or to whichever Numbers Bar column you want to display the boxes in.

After choosing one of the settings other than None, it is necessary to specify the particular column to draw the markers in. Set the Place Open Marker/ Boxes In and Place Close Marker In to the particular column # that you want the markers displayed in.

The Colors for the Arrows and Vertical Bars are set with the Open Marker/ Up Box Color am the Close Marker / Down Box Color color Input settings. Refer to image below.

Place Open Marker / Boxes In: This input controls which Numbers Bar column among the 3 available columns, the Open marker or Open to Close boxes will be drawn in.

Place Close Marker In: This input controls which Numbers Bar column among the 3 available columns, the Close marker will be drawn in. This does not apply when using Open to Close Boxes.

Open Marker / Up Box Color: This color input sets the Open Marker color, or the Open to Close boxes color for when a bar is an up bar.

Close Marker / Down Box Color: This color input sets the Close Marker color, or the Open to Close boxes color for when a bar is a down bar.

Center All Column Text: When this input is set to Yes , then the text displayed within a Numbers Bar column will be centered. If the Numbers Bars Text Type is set to Bid Volume x Ask Volume, then the text is always centered.

Bold Last Trade Price: When this input is set to Yes, then the last trade price on the last Numbers Bar in the chart will have a bold font at the row corresponding to the last trade price.

Bid / Ask Bold Threshold: This input sets a volume level, which when exceeded by a Bid Volume or Ask Volume value, will cause a bold font to be used to display that value. This setting only applies when the Column # Numbers Bars Text is set to Bid Vol x Ask Vol.

Numbers Separator Character: This input sets the separator character used between the Bid Volume and the Ask Volume when the Numbers Bars Text Type is set to Bid Volume x Ask Volume.

Font Size: This input sets the Font Size of the text in the Numbers Bars. When this is set to 0, then this means that the Font Size for the Chart Text Font set in the Graphics Settings window controls the size. Otherwise, when this is set to a nonzero number, this controls the size of the text in the Numbers Bars.

Show Historical Pullback/COT AskVolume BidVolume Difference: When this input is set to Yes, then the Ask Volume and Bid Volume difference using either the Pullback or COT (commitment of traders) resetting method, is displayed above and below each Numbers Bar. The value at the top of the bar is the difference since the last High Pullback/COT and the value at the bottom of the bar is the difference since the last Low Pullback/COT.

For this setting to have an effect and actually display the Ask Volume and Bid Volume difference, it is necessary to enable the Historical Pullback Data for the chart in Chart >> Chart settings >> Advanced Settings. Refer to Historical Pullback Data.

Historical High Pullback Color: This color input sets the color of the Historical High Pullback value.

Historical Pullback Font Size: This input sets the Font Size of the High/Low Historical Pullback text above/below Numbers Bars. When this is set to 0, then this means that the Font Size for the Chart Text Font set in the Graphics Settings window controls the size. Otherwise, when this is set to a nonzero number, this controls the size of the text.

Draw Historical Pullback Separator: When this input is set to Yes, then there will be a vertical bar separator line drawn between the last Numbers Bar in the chart and the Pullback Column on the right side of the chart. This makes it clear which column is the Pullback Column.

Bid/Ask Volume Text Threshold: This input setting only applies when the Column # Numbers Bars Text input is set to Bid Volume x Ask Volume. Only Bid Volume numbers or Ask Volume numbers that exceed this number will be displayed. The default value is 0 which means all volume values are displayed.

Column # Compare Thresholds

This section applies to each of the 3 Column # Compare Thresholds inputs.

The Column # Compare Thresholds is a text string input with 3 comma separated values. The default values are .25, .50, and .75. The leftmost value is considered the first comparison threshold and the rightmost value is considered the third comparison threshold.

The 3 comparison threshold values can represent percentages or actual numeric values depending upon their values and whether Dominant Side Text or Background coloring is being used.

These compare thresholds are used to determine which of four comparison ranges a Numbers Bar value falls within. These comparison ranges correspond to the 4 Up Color and 4 Down Color settings for each Numbers Bars column.

Range 3 Up/Down Color: This Up/Down color is used when the Numbers Bar value is greater than or equal to the third comparison threshold ( .75 by default).

Range 2 Up/Down Color: This Up/Down color is used when the Numbers Bar value is greater than or equal to the second comparison threshold (.5 by default) and less than third the comparison threshold.

Range 1 Up/Down Color: This Up/Down color is used when the Numbers Bar value is greater than or equal to first comparison threshold and less than the second comparison threshold.

Range 0 Up/Down Color: This Up/Down color is used when the Numbers Bar value is less than first comparison threshold (.25 by default).

If the comparison thresholds are less than 1.0, then they are considered percentages. For example, if you specify .3, .67, .9 to change percentage thresholds, and are doing Volume based coloring, the Volume percentage calculated for a price level is compared against these specified percentages (30%, 67%, 90%) and then mapped to the corresponding Range Color.

If the numbers are >= 1, then they are considered actual compare values (except for Dominant Side comparisons), and the comparisons are made against the actual values instead of percentages. For example, if you specify 100, 500, 1000 and have set the Numbers Bars to Volume based coloring, the Volume at the price level is compared to these comparison thresholds and then mapped to the corresponding Range Color.

For Dominant Side or Diagonal Dominant Side comparisons, these comparison thresholds are always percentages. For example, if you specify values of 200, 400, 600 and have selected Dominant Side based coloring, the dominant side percentage is compared against the specified percentages and mapped to the corresponding Range Color. So, if the Bid Volume was twice the Ask Volume (200%), Column # Range 1 Up/Down Color would be selected.

Ask Volume and Bid Volume Difference Percentage Coloring

This documentation makes reference to a Compare Value. When the corresponding Column 1 Compare Threshold Input setting is less than 1.0, then the Compare Value is a percentage. Otherwise, the actual volume values are used for the Compare Value.

When using percentages, the percentage is based on dominant volume. So if AskVolume > BidVolume, then Percentage = (AskVolume at price within bar - BidVolume at price within bar) / Total Volume of prices within bar. Otherwise, Percentage = (BidVolume at price within bar - AskVolume at price within bar) / Total Volume of prices within bar.

When using actual volume values , the Compare Value is the absolute value of the AskVolume minus BidVolume at a price level.

The following are the rules for determining which specific color to use after the percentage calculations are performed:

Column # Range 3 Up Color: This color is used when the AskVolume > BidVolume and the Compare Value is greater than or equal the third Compare Threshold (75% by default).

Column # Range 2 Up Color: This color is used when the AskVolume > BidVolume and the Compare Value is greater than or equal the second Compare Threshold (50% by default) and lower than the third Compare Threshold.

Column # Range 1 Up Color: This color is used when the AskVolume > BidVolume and the Compare Value is greater than or equal the first Compare Threshold (25% by default) and lower than the second Compare Threshold.

Column # Range 0 Up Color: This color is used when the AskVolume > BidVolume and the Compare Value is lower than the first Compare Threshold.

Column # Range 0 Down Color: This color is used when the BidVolume > AskVolume and the Compare Value is lower than the first Compare Threshold.

Column # Range 1 Down Color: This color is used when the BidVolume > AskVolume and the Compare Value is greater than or equal the first Compare Threshold (25% by default) and lower than the second Compare Threshold.

Column # Range 2 Down Color: This color is used when the BidVolume > AskVolume and the Compare Value is greater than or equal the second Compare Threshold (50% by default) and lower than the third Compare Threshold.

Column # Range 3 Down Color: This color is used when the BidVolume > AskVolume and the Compare Value is greater than or equal the third Compare Threshold (75% by default).

Note: When using percentages, if both Ask Volume and Bid Volume are zero or equal, then the Column # Range 2 Up Color is used.

Ask Volume and Bid Volume Percentage Coloring

This documentation makes reference to a Compare Value. When the corresponding Column 1 Compare Threshold Input setting is less than 1.0, then the Compare Value is a percentage. Otherwise, the actual volume values are used for the Compare Value.

When using percentages are used for the Compare Values, the percentage is based on the Ask/Bid Volume at price versus the maximum value of Ask/Bid Volume of all the prices for the bar. So AskPercentage = AskVolume at price within bar / Maximum Ask Volume at price within bar. BidPercentage = BidVolume at price within bar / Maximum Bid Volume at price within bar.

When using actual values, the Compare Value is the actual AskVolume or BidVolume at price within the bar.

When the Column # Text Coloring Method input is set to Text on Dominant Side, then both a Bid (Down) and Ask (Up) color will be used for the text coloring. Otherwise, a single color will be used. Either a Up or Down color will be used based upon whether the AskVolume is greater than the BidVolume at a price level within the Numbers Bar, or the other way around. If the AskVolume and BidVolume at a price level within a Numbers Bar are equal, then the total AskVolume and BidVolume for the entire Numbers Bar is examined to determine which one is greater. The Ask (Up) coloring is used if the AskVolume is greater. The Bid (Down) coloring is used if the total BidVolume is greater. If the total BidVolume and AskVolume are equal, then the Bid (Down) coloring is used.

The following are the rules for determining which specific color to use after the percentage calculations are performed:

Column # Range 3 Up Color: This color is used when the Ask Compare Value is greater than or equal the third Compare Threshold (75% by default).

Column # Range 2 Up Color: This color is used when the Ask Compare Value is greater than or equal the second Compare Threshold (50% by default) and lower than the third Compare Threshold.

Column # Range 1 Up Color: This color is used when the Ask Compare Value is greater than or equal the first Compare Threshold (25% by default) and lower than the second Compare Threshold.

Column # Range 0 Up Color: This color is used when the Ask Compare Value is lower than the first Compare Threshold.

Column # Range 0 Down Color: This color is used when the Bid Compare Value is lower than the first Compare Threshold.

Column # Range 1 Down Color: This color is used when the Bid Compare Value is greater than or equal the first Compare Threshold (25% by default) and lower than the second Compare Threshold.

Column # Range 2 Down Color: This color is used when the Bid Compare Value is greater than or equal the second Compare Threshold (50% by default) and lower than the third Compare Threshold.

Column # Range 3 Down Color: This color is used when the Bid Compare Value is greater than or equal the third Compare Threshold (75% by default).

This documentation makes reference to a Compare Value. When the corresponding Column 1 Compare Threshold Input setting is less than 1.0, then the Compare Value is a percentage. Otherwise, the actual volume values are used for the Compare Value.

Note: In the below documentation, Volumes are used in the description. Trades percentages are identical except replace Volume with Trades when reading the descriptions.

When using percentages, the percentage is based on the Volume at Price versus the maximum value of volume across all prices for the bar. So Percentage = Volume at Price within bar / Maximum Volume at Price within bar.

When using actual values, the Compare Value is the Volume at Price within the bar.

Up Colors are used if the Open of the Numbers Bar is lower or equal to the Close of the Numbers Bar. Down Colors are used if the Open of the Numbers Bar is greater than Close of the Numbers Bar.

The following are the rules for determining which specific color to use after the percentage calculations are performed:

Column # Range 3 Up Color: This color is used when the Compare Value is greater than or equal the third Compare Threshold (75% by default).

Column # Range 2 Up Color: This color is used when the Compare Value is greater than or equal the second Compare Threshold (50% by default) and less than the third Compare Threshold.

Column # Range 1 Up Color: This color is used when the Compare Value is greater than or equal the first Compare Threshold (25% by default) and less than the second Compare Threshold.

Column # Range 0 Up Color: This color is used when the Compare Value is less than the first Compare Threshold.

Column # Range 0 Down Color: This color is used when the Compare Value is less than the first Compare Threshold.

Column # Range 1 Down Color: This color is used when the Compare Value is greater than or equal the first Compare Threshold (25% by default) and less than the second Compare Threshold.

Column # Range 2 Down Color: This color is used when the Compare Value is greater than or equal the second Compare Threshold (50% by default) and less than the third Compare Threshold.

Column # Range 3 Down Color: This color is used when the Compare Value is greater than or equal the third Compare Threshold (75% by default).

This section documents the coloring logic used for Dominant Side Percentage coloring or Diagonal Dominant Side Percentage Coloring.

With this coloring method, the Bid Volume and Ask Volume at each price level within a Numbers Bar are calculated to each have a percentage. The Bid side percentage is equal to the Bid Volume at the price level divided by the Ask Volume at the price level (Formula: Percentage = Bid Volume / Ask Volume). The Ask side percentage is equal to the Ask Volume at the price level divided by the Bid Volume at the price level (Formula: Percentage = Ask Volume / Bid Volume).

For example, if Bid Volume equals 100 and the Ask Volume equals 200, the Bid side percentage is 50% and the Ask side percentage is 200%. The larger value determines which side is dominant and colored.

With Dominant Side Percentage Coloring or Diagonal Dominant Side Percentage Coloring, the comparisons are always done using percentages no matter what the Column # Compare Threshold Input settings are set to. If a threshold value is less than or equal to 1.0, then this is multiplied by 100 to always have a percentage. 1.0 = 100%. 100 is also equal to 100%.

With this coloring method, the default Column # Compare Thresholds need to be changed since the dominant side will always have a percentage greater than or equal to 100%.

Note:Diagonal Dominant Side is similar except the Bid Volume at one price level is compared diagonally to the Ask Volume at the next higher price level. Due to the diagonal comparison, the Bid Volume and Ask Volume at a single level could both be considered dominant. Also, the Ask volume at the lowest price level and the Bid volume at the highest price level do not have a value to compare against and are not colored.

Up Colors are used if the Ask side is dominant and the Down colors are used when the Bid side is dominant.

The following are the rules for determining which specific Color Input is used to color the Text or Background, after the percentage calculations are performed as explained above. The percentages given in the Color Input name listed below, are changed by the Column # Compare Threshold percentage settings which contain 3 percentage values (.25, .50 .75 by default).

Column # Range 3 Up Color: This color is used when the Ask Side is dominant and the percentage is greater than or equal to the third Compare Threshold.

Column # Range 2 Up Color: This color is used when the Ask Side is dominant and the percentage is greater than or equal to the second Compare Threshold and lower than the third Compare Threshold.

Column # Range 1 Up Color: This color is used when the Ask Side is dominant and the percentage is greater than or equal the first Compare Threshold and lower than the second Compare Threshold.

Column # Range 0 Up Color: This color is used when the Ask Side is dominant and the percentage is lower than the first Compare Threshold.

Column # Range 0 Down Color: This color is used when the Bid Side is dominant and the percentage is lower than the first Compare Threshold.

Column # Range 1 Down Color: This color is used when the Bid Side is dominant and the percentage is greater than or equal to the first Compare Threshold and lower than the second Compare Threshold.

Column # Range 2 Down Color: This color is used when the Bid Side is dominant and the percentage is greater than or equal to the second Compare Threshold and lower than the third Compare Threshold.

Column # Range 3 Down Color: This color is used when the Bid Side is dominant and the percentage is greater than or equal to the third Compare Threshold.

Diagonal Comparison of Bid Volume and Ask Volume

A Numbers Bar which is set to display Bid Volume x Ask Volume, displays Bid traded volume on the left side and Ask traded volume on the right side at a particular price level. A single price level is not able to represent the true Bid traded volume and Ask traded volume at a particular moment in time because the Bid and Ask are never at the same price level at any given moment in time.

Therefore, a diagonal comparison method needs to be done. Follow these instructions to set up the Numbers Bars for a diagonal comparison.

The instructions below should be considered an example only because there are various possible configurations. This should give you a good understanding of what is necessary for reasonable diagonal comparison type of configuration.

Add the Numbers Bars study to the chart according to the instructions in the Step-By-Step Instructions section on this page. Stop at the step that opens the Study Settings window. Continue with the instructions below.

Select the Settings and Inputs tab.

Set the Column 1 Numbers Bars Text Input to Bid Vol x Ask Vol.

The Column 1 Background Type Input can be set to anything because it is not used in this example.

Set the Column 1 Background Coloring Method Input to None-Transparent.

Set the Column 1 Range 0 Up Color Color Input to a neutral color which does not indicate any emphasis of the text. You may want to make this the same as the chart text color.

Set the Column 1 Range 0 Down Color Color Input to a neutral color which does not indicate any emphasis of the text. You may want to make this the same as the chart text color.

Set the Column 1 Compare Thresholds Input as follows: 150, 200, 300. These represent percentages (150%, 200%, 300%). Use whatever percentages that you require. This is only an example.

The first percentage corresponds to the Column 1 Range 1 Up/Down Color. The second percentage corresponds to the Column 1 Range 2 Up/Down Color. The third percentage corresponds to the Column 1 Range 3 Up/Down Color. For more detailed explanation about how these percentages are used to color the text, refer to the Dominant Side Percentage Coloring | Diagonal Dominant Side Percentage Coloring section.

Set the other Column 1 Range 1, 2, 3 Up/Down Color Color Inputs to what you require for coloring. Each of these color settings corresponds with the 3 Column 1 Compare Thresholds Input percentages.

Pullback Column

Definition

The pullback column represents a standard Numbers Bar, displayed at the end of the chart, which is based upon the Volume at Price data since the most recent new High or Low on the last bar in the chart. On the last bar in the chart, if a new High/Low is made or there is a new bar added to the chart, the pullback column data is reset and the Volume at Price data is accumulated from that point going forward.

Upon a new High or Low, the pullback column will consist of a single price level. If the market trades one tick away from the High, then the pullback column will consist of 2 price tick levels, a tick at the High price and 1 tick below it.

Enabling and Viewing the Pullback Column

The Numbers Bars study supports the ability to configure up to 3 Numbers Bars Pullback Columns at the end of the chart. You will notice in the list of Inputs for Numbers Bars study, 3 sets of Pullback Column Inputs, one for each Pullback Column. These are numbered 1 through 3.

Configure the Pullback Column # Numbers Bars Text for each of the 3 columns you want to use. Numbers Bars can contain 1-3 columns of information. For each of the three columns, select one of the choices. For descriptions of each text type refer to Numbers Bars Text Types. If you only want to display a single column, then set Pullback Column 1 Numbers Bars Text to the Text type that you require and the other columns need to be set to No Text.

Configure the Pullback Column # Background Type for each of the 3 columns you want to use. For details of each type, refer to Numbers Bars Background Types.

Since the Pullback Column is displayed after the last bar in the chart, you will need to scroll the chart past the last bar in the chart to create space on the right side in order to see the Pullback Column. For instructions, refer to Scrolling the Chart in the Working with Charts page.

Example Charts

In this image you can see Numbers Bars which display the difference between AskVolume and BidVolume for each price level. The yellow box that you see around a value indicates the maximum or minimum value within that particular bar.

In this image you can see Numbers Bars which display the BidVolume and AskVolume individually, separated by a x, at each price level. The yellow box you see around a set of volumes indicates that the numbers are the maximum Bid Volume or maximum Ask Volume within that particular bar.

This image shows a Numbers Bars study with the Column 1 Background Type input set to Volume Profile . With this setting, the width of the colored box behind the number at each price level, is based upon the volume at the price level compared to the maximum volume among all of the price levels within the Numbers Bar.

Font Size and Style for Numbers Bars

Numbers Bars use text within each bar. Therefore, you may need to adjust the Font, Style and Size used by them.

To change the Font, Style, Size, select Chart >> Graphics Settings on the menu. Uncheck the option to use the Global Color Settings. In the Chart Text Font frame, press the Select button. Modify the font properties as you require.

To independently modify the Font Size from that used by the chart text, adjust the Font Size Input with the Numbers Bars study. It needs to be set to a nonzero value for it to have an effect. Using a 0 value, will use the same Font Size as the chart text itself.

Volume Filtering

Trade and Trade Volume filtering is supported with Numbers Bars. There are two filtering methods available.

One method only filters out the volume of trades that is below and/or above the specified values. To set this, select Chart >> Chart Settings >> Advanced Settings 2. Use the Volume Filter >> Exclude >= and the Volume Filter >> Exclude <= to set the volume that you want to exclude. The trades and trade prices will still be included in the chart. Make sure the Filter Trade Completely option is disabled.

The second method completely filters out the trades including the volume of those trades, where the volume is below and/or above the specified values. To set this, select Chart >> Chart Settings >> Advanced Settings 2. Use the Volume Filter >> Exclude >= and the Volume Filter >> Exclude <= to set the volume that you want to exclude. Enable the Filter Trade Completely option.

Using Numbers Bars on a Reversal Bars Chart

In the box below the Bar Period Type list, set the value to the number of price ticks the price needs to reverse by before starting a new bar. For a 5 tick Reversalbar chart, enter a value of 5. For further details, refer to Reversal Bars.

Reset Study to Default Settings

Due to the sophistication of the Numbers Bars study, if you have saved study defaults, and later find the study is not functioning as expected, you can reset it to a default state by following the instructions in the Resetting Default Study Settings For an Individual Study section.

Study to Display Total Bid Volume, Ask Volume, and Difference per Bar

To obtain a graphical display of the total Bid Volume, the total Ask Volume, and the difference between Ask Volume and Bid Volume at each chart bar, add the Bid Volume vs. Ask Volume study to the chart.

To add this study, select Analysis >> Studies on the menu. The Bid Volume vs. Ask Volume study is listed in the Studies Available section.

Displaying Numeric Information Below Numbers Bars

Various calculations based on Numbers Bars can be performed and displayed as text below the Numbers Bars graph. To use this study, follow the instructions below.

Select Analysis >> Studies on the menu.

In the Studies Available list, select the Numbers Bars Calculated Values study.

Press the Add button.

Press the Settings button to open the Study Settings window if it is not already open.

Select the Subgraphs tab. Each of the available Numbers Bars Calculated Values is represented by an individual Subgraph in the study. For the descriptions, refer to Subgraph Descriptions. Set the Draw Style to Visible for each Calculated Value Subgraph you want to display. If you do not want to display a particular Calculated Value Subgraph, then set its Draw Style to Ignore.

Each row of Calculated Values can be color coded based upon whether a number is positive or negative or has increased or decreased compared to its previous value. On the Subgraphs tab, select a Subgraph in the list.

Make sure Auto Coloring, is set to Based On +/- or Based on Slope. The Subgraph Primary color setting (first color button), sets the color to use if the number is positive or has increased in value. The Subgraph Secondary color setting (second color button), sets the color to use if the number is negative or has decreased in value. If the number is 0, then an average of these two colors is used.

Press OK. Press OK.

You may notice the additional calculated values below the chart are overlapping. In this case, you just need to increase the bar spacing in the chart for them to be properly displayed.

Show Pullback Column Values: When this input is set to Yes, then the Pullback column values for each of the displayed calculated values rows will be calculated and displayed. The pullback column is displayed after the very last bar in the chart.

Font Size: This input sets the font size of the text values.

Include Prior Bar Common Price Volume: When this input is set to Yes, volume from the prior bar at common prices is included within the corresponding price for the bar that follows it.

Labels On Right: When this input is set to Yes, descriptive row labels will be drawn on the right side of the chart.

Allow Values To Overlap Labels: When this input is set to Yes, this will draw the row values even if they are within the left side label area. Another option to be aware of is that the Subgraph Short Name setting can be set to an alternative name in order to rename the row label and make it shorter. This allows the label area to be smaller. The size of the label area is determined by the largest label.

Subgraph Display Order: This study Input provides a means by which the available Calculated Values rows can have their display order changed. This input is a comma separated list of study Subgraph numbers (1, 2, 3, ...). By default this input is blank, which displays the rows in the default order. This is according to the position a particular Calculated Value is at in the list of Subgraphs on the Subgraphs tab of the Study Settings window for the Numbers Bars Calculated Values study. By entering a list of Subgraph numbers for this input, those Subgraphs will be displayed in the specified order. Any Subgraphs set with a Visible Draw Style not specified in the list, will be displayed after those specified.

Customizing the Calculated Values Rows Display Order

It is possible to customize the display order of the Calculated Values rows. Follow these instructions:

Open the Study Settings window for the Numbers Bars Calculated Values study. Select Analysis >> Studies on the menu.

In the Studies to Graph list, select the Numbers Bars Calculated Values study.

Press the Settings button.

Select the Subgraphs tab. Each of the available Numbers Bars Calculated Values is represented by an individual Subgraph in the study. You will notice that each subgraphs has a number. Refer to the image. The first one is 1. The numbers are after SG.

To control the display order of these Subgraphs in the table on the chart, you need to create a comma separated list of the subgraphs numbers in the order that you want the Subgraphs rows to be displayed. For example: 4, 1, 2.

Enter this comma separated list of Subgraph numbers in the Subgraph Display Order Input on the Settings and Inputs tab.

Positive Delta Total (+Delta Sum/Total): At each price level within a Numbers Bar, the difference between the Ask Volume and Bid Volume is calculated. All the differences at each price level which are positive, are summed together. This Subgraph displays this sum.

Negative Delta Total (-Delta Sum/Total): At each price level within a Numbers Bar, the difference between the Ask Volume and Bid Volume is calculated. All the differences at each price level which are negative, are summed together. This Subgraph displays this sum.

Ask Volume Total (Ask Vol): This is a total of all of the Ask Volume for the Numbers Bar.

Bid Volume Total (Bid Vol): This is a total of all of the Bid Volume for the Numbers Bar.

Maximum of Ask Volume & Bid Volume Difference (Max Ask Vol-Bid Vol): This is the maximum value of the difference between Ask Volume and Bid Volume during the complete duration of the bar for which this value is drawn below.

Minimum of Ask Volume & Bid Volume Difference (Min Ask Vol-Bid Vol): This is the minimum value of the difference between Ask Volume and Bid Volume during the complete duration of the bar for which this value is drawn below.

Cumulative Sum of Ask Volume & Bid Volume Difference - Day (Day Cumulative AskV - BidV): This is a cumulative bar to bar sum from the beginning of the day based upon the Start Time setting in Chart >> Chart Settings , of the difference between the total Ask Volume and the total Bid Volume for each entire Numbers Bar.

Ask Volume Bid Volume Percent Difference (AskV - BidV %): This is the percentage difference between the Ask Volume and the Bid Volume. The volume difference is calculated between the Ask Volume and the Bid Volume. This is the percentage that this volume difference is of the total volume.

Trades (Trades): This is the total number of trades for the Numbers Bar.

Total Volume (Total Vol): This is the total volume of the trades for the Numbers Bar.

Total Volume Bar Difference (Vol BarDiff): .

Average Volume Per Trade (Avg Vol/Trade): This is the average volume for the number of trades in the Numbers Bar.

Average Volume Per Price (Avg Vol/Price): This is the average volume for each price of the Numbers Bar.

Ask Volume Percent (AskV %): This is the percentage that the Ask Volume is of the total volume for the Numbers Bar.

Bid Volume Percent (BidV %): This is the percentage that the Bid Volume is of the total volume for the Numbers Bar.

Cumulative Sum of Ask Volume & Bid Volume Difference - All (All Cumulative AskV - BidV): This is a cumulative bar to bar sum from the beginning of the chart of the difference between the total Ask Volume and the total Bid Volume for each entire Numbers Bar.

Point Of Control Volume (POC Vol): This is the volume of the price level within the Numbers Bar that has the maximum volume.

Cumulative Delta Volume High (Cum Delta High): This is the bar High value of the Cumulative Delta Bars - Volume study at the same bar as the candlestick bar from the study. This value is based upon the Cumulative Delta Bars data being reset at the start of the trading day.

Cumulative Delta Volume Low (Cum Delta Low): This is the bar Low value of the Cumulative Delta Bars - Volume study at the same bar as the candlestick bar from the study. This value is based upon the Cumulative Delta Bars data being reset at the start of the trading day.

Ask Bid Difference To Max/Min (Ask Bid Diff To Max/Min):

If the difference between the Ask Volume and the Bid Volume for the entire Numbers Bar is >= 0, then the Minimum of Ask Volume & Bid Volume Difference calculated value is subtracted from this difference.

If the difference between the Ask Volume and the Bid Volume for the entire Numbers Bar is < 0, then the Maximum of Ask Volume & Bid Volume Difference calculated value is subtracted from this difference.

Ask Bid Tick Difference (AskT - BidT): This is the difference between the number of trades at the Ask price and the number of trades at the Bid price for the bar.

Cumulative Sum of Ask Ticks Bid Ticks Difference - Day (Day Cumulative AskT - BidT): This calculation first involves taking the difference between the number of trades at the Ask price and the number of trades at the Bid price. At each bar in the chart, this is a cumulative sum of this difference. This cumulative sum is reset at the start of the trading day.

Cumulative Delta Ticks High (Cum Delta Ticks High): This is the bar High value of the Cumulative Delta Bars - Ticks study at the same bar as the candlestick bar from the study. This value is based upon the Cumulative Delta Bars data being reset at the start of the trading day.

Cumulative Delta Ticks Low (Cum Delta Ticks Low): This is the bar Low value of the Cumulative Delta Bars - Ticks study at the same bar as the candlestick bar from the study. This value is based upon the Cumulative Delta Bars data being reset at the start of the trading day.

Maximum Ask Bid Vol Diff to Closing Ask Bid Vol Diff: This is the difference between the: Maximum Ask Volume and Bid Volume difference for a Numbers Bar, and the closing Ask Volume and Bid Volume difference for the same Numbers Bar.

Minimum Ask Bid Vol Diff to Closing Ask Bid Vol Diff: This is the difference between the: Minimum Ask Volume and Bid Volume difference for a Numbers Bar, and the closing Ask Volume and Bid Volume difference for the same Numbers Bar.

Bar Duration: This is the time duration of the chart bar.

Daily Range: This is the High to Low price range as of the chart column it is displayed at, since the beginning of the trading day.

Overlap %: Undocumented.

Weekly Range: This is the High to Low price range as of the chart column it is displayed at, since the beginning of the week. A week is considered to begin on Sunday.

If the absolute value of the maximum Ask Volume and Bid Volume difference at the current bar is greater than the absolute value of the minimum Ask Volume and Bid Volume difference at the current bar, then the maximum Ask Volume and Bid Volume difference is subtracted from the final Ask Volume and Bid Volume difference for the current bar.

If the absolute value of the minimum Ask Volume and Bid Volume difference at the current bar is greater than or equal to the absolute value of the maximum Ask Volume and Bid Volume difference at the current bar, then the minimum Ask Volume and Bid Volume difference is subtracted from the final Ask Volume and Bid Volume difference for the current bar.

The calculation of Finish AskVol BidVol Difference is as follows: The absolute value of the Highest and Lowest Ask Volume and Bid Volume difference for the bar is calculated. The larger of these two values is placed into LargestAskBidVolumeDiff. The Finish calculation is the final Ask Volume and Bid Volume difference for the bar minus LargestAskBidVolumeDiff.

The Finish AskVol BidVol Difference Percent calculation is the Finish calculation result divided by the LargestAskBidVolumeDiff. The absolute value of this is calculated and multiplied by 100.

High Pullback Ask Volume and Bid Volume Difference (High Pullback Ask/Bid Vol Diff): This is the difference between Ask Volume and Bid Volume since the last new High price at the chart bar that the value is displayed for in the calculated values table. For information about Pullback calculations, refer to Pullback Column.

It is necessary to enable the Historical Pullback Data calculations in Chart >> Chart Settings >> Advanced Settings in order to get data for this particular Subgraph. Refer to Historical Pullback Data.

Low Pullback Ask Volume and Bid Volume Difference (Low Pullback Ask/Bid Vol Diff): This is the difference between Ask Volume and Bid Volume since the last new Low price at the chart bar that the value is displayed for in the calculated values table. For information about Pullback calculations, refer to Pullback Column.

It is necessary to enable the Historical Pullback Data calculations in Chart >> Chart Settings >> Advanced Settings in order to get data for this particular Subgraph. Refer to Historical Pullback Data.

Overlaying a Numbers Bars Calculated Values Study from Another Chart

This is useful if you want to specify different Volume Filtering settings for the Numbers Bars Calculated Values study, compared to another instance of the study on the chart you are working with. Another reason would be you want to overlay the Numbers Bars Calculated Values study from a chart with a different symbol, on a another chart.

To overlay a Numbers Bars Calculated Value study from another chart, follow the steps below.

Configure the other chart that you want to overlay the Numbers Bars Calculated Values study from. This is called the source chart. You will need to add an instance of the Numbers Bars Calculated Values to this source chart. You may want to set custom Volume Filtering on this source chart.

On the destination chart where you want to overlay the instance of the Numbers Bars Calculated Values from the source chart, add the Study/Price Overlay study to the chart. Set it to reference the Numbers Bars Calculated Values study on the source chart. For complete documentation, refer to Study/Price Overlay study.